Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for July 5-12, 2026
Sunday's Comprehensive Fishing Article for Florida's Freshwater Anglers
Good Fishing Next Four Days
The Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for July 5-8, 2026, gives anglers a weak to medium strength lunar influence that will improve during the week and a rainy season weather forecast pattern consisting of no pressure change, mild wind speeds from mostly the south, and plenty of thunderstorm development during the midafternoons through the early evening hours.
As is usually the case during the rainy season, the sun-to-cloud ratio is ideal for causing fish adjustment activity when fish move back and forth from protective cover to open water within the feeding grounds.
And as is always the case, when the strongest lunar influence occurs when the underfoot moon happens during the highest oxygen production period of the day, thunderstorm and specifically lightning adds a danger element which cannot be ignored for anglers fishing when fish are most actively feeding.
So, as you are out on the water over the next four day enjoying fishing or other forms of recreation, be sure to have a good working escape plan which puts you in a vehicle or building should lightning threaten your location.
Florida is known to be the US Capital of two things, Fishing and Lightning Strikes. During the first and last quarter moon phases of the June through September the best fishing periods of the day occur when thunderstorm activity is most likely. So, prepare accordingly. Your life depends on it.
Solar-Lunar Factor: Solar noon occurs at 1:30:35 p.m. EST. today, and will decline over the next ten days to 1:32:05 p.m. DST EST. Today we are 7 days from the lunar high, 8 days from the lunar orbit perigee, and 9 days from a strong new moon. In other words, currently the lunar effect is at half strength and will noticeably become stronger daily this week and remain strong for the second full week of the month.
The stronger the lunar effect is, the greater the numbers of fish participating in the daily feeding effort and the longer the duration of that effort. You can expect both the feeding intensity and duration to increase starting during the midweek and peak next weekend and remain strong for three days.
Major Solar-Lunar Periods: Today the moon is underfoot at 5:33 p.m. producing a 6-7 feed rating from 4-7 p.m. Daily the underfoot moon occurs later by an average of 45 min and remains at the same feed rating until next weekend when it begins to diminish by one number and becomes a minor period.
A second minor period happens today when the moonset occurs at 11:34 a.m. producing a 6-feed rating from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Daily the moonset occurs later by an average of 1 hr. and remains at the same feed rating. Due to this lunar period occurring when oxygen production is peaking for the day it becomes a major feeding period.
During the summer rainy season the dominate feeding factor is the highest oxygen period of the day, except when the lunar high period occurs which is 5 days before and after the day of the lunar high, which this month is July 13, one day before the new moon and two days before the orbit perigee.
Minor Solar Lunar Periods: Today the moon is overhead at 5:33 a.m. producing a 4-5 rating from 5-7 a.m. Daily the overhead moon occurs later by an average of 45 min and remains at the same feed rating until next weekend when it occurs during the oxygen production period and begins to arrive at the high position within the solar energy path. Beginning Thursday the feed rating improve daily by a half number as a result and becomes a major feeding period.
A second minor period happens today when the moonrise occurs at midnight creating a 3-feed rating from 11 p.m.-1 a.m. Daily the moonrise occurs later by an average of 30 min and remains at the same feed rating until next weekend when it happens during the lowest oxygen period of the day and perhaps produces a 1-2 rating.
Best Fishing Days: Over the next four days the strongest fishing factors will occur the day before and after the last quarter moon, which occurs Tuesday. The strongest lunar activity will occur during the sunset period, which also happens to be at the tail end of the highest oxygen rating period of the day.
And if the morning anglers,
fish deeper feeding grounds with 12–18-foot depths the overhead moon combined with the sunrise period should create a fairly good feeding bite Monday through Wednesday.
Lake Istokpoga S68 Spillway and Lake Level Status: Lake level average is currently at 36.50 NAVD88 with four S8 spillway gates closed. The NAVD88 Offset to NGVD29 is + 1.16 feet = 37.52NGVD29. Current maximum high level is 38.25’ NGVD and the low level is 37.50’ NVGD.
Prime Monthly Periods: July 11-17 very strong super new moon phase, 26-31very weak full moon phase, August 9-15new moon phase, 25-30 full moon phase, Sept. 6-12 new moon phase, 23-29 full moon phase.
Dave Douglass has been an artificial bait only bass fishing guide since 2005, and the writer of the Highlands News-Sun fishing forecast article since Oct. 2016 and previously the writer of the Highlands Today fishing forecast article which began in Nov. 2005. Contact email DavidPDouglass@hotmail.com or phone 863-381-8474.